Grading the 2021 Summer Celtics: assessing Boston’s Sin City performances

Wherein we grade each individual performance throughout the 2021 Las Vegas Summer League of Boston’s roster.

The Boston Celtics may have stumbled at the finish line by dropping the 2021 Las Vegas Summer League title game to the Sacramento Kings, but there were still plenty of positives to take home from the (normally) annual Sin City exhibition series for the Celtics.

But how would we grade the performances of the 13 players who suited up for Boston this offseason? As the team with the biggest point differential and an undefeated record heading into the title game, there’s certainly plenty of praise to be distributed, but what about criticism? Can one even make meaningful assessments of players given the reputation of summer league play as a largely inaccurate indicator of future success?

We’re going to try just the same, so let’s get started.

Patrick Williams, Desmond Bane and the players who were handed the keys at summer league

After a brief hiatus, there are a ton of reasons why the basketball world was glad to have Las Vegas Summer League back on the schedule.

After a brief hiatus, there are a ton of reasons why the basketball world was glad to have Las Vegas Summer League back on the schedule.

While summer league was unfortunately canceled in 2020, the even took place once again this year. Fans have already seen star rookies such as Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green make their pro debuts. They have also seen LiAngelo Ball play particularly well for the Charlotte Hornets.

But as noted by Derek Murray, one of the main benefits of summer league is that NBA teams can allow their younger role players to get more reps on the ball. Players who are typically off-ball shooters or slashers may get the nod to initiate offense for their squad.

Below, we have outlined some of the players around the league who have made the most of their opportunity as the primary creator for their teams in summer league action.

Although these players may not be afforded such looks during NBA action because they’re surrounded by more star power during the regular season, it is incredibly helpful for their long-term development and gives teams a sense of what these players can eventually become.

Note that all player roles are defined by their play-type usage based on the offensive archetype definitions provided by BBall-Index.com. All stats are pulled from Synergy Sports Tech unless specifically noted otherwise.

The top scorers in Vegas Summer League history

The annual NBA Las Vegas Summer League tournament has become a valued tradition to the biggest basketball fans, as it’s everyone’s first opportunity to catch the league’s future stars suit up for their new clubs for the first time, while also giving …

The annual NBA Las Vegas Summer League tournament has become a valued tradition to the biggest basketball fans, as it’s everyone’s first opportunity to catch the league’s future stars suit up for their new clubs for the first time, while also giving everyone a glimpse of potential diamonds in the rough who could unexpectedly work their way onto teams’ rosters.

Vegas Summer League is also a place where many fringe NBA veterans find themselves every year, as their names are big enough to land them coveted spots on those teams, even if their games don’t hold that much promise.

As such, the all-time leading scorers in Vegas Summer League history, for the most part, aren’t future or current NBA stars, but veteran end-of-bench pieces trying to fight their way back in the NBA.

Below, check out the top scorers in Las Vegas Summer League history.

How did NBA stars perform in summer league?

Although the annual NBA Summer League can be a good bit of fun to follow, fans of the sport have realized by now that you shouldn’t read too much into great performances there. With that said, it’s a pretty big red flag if top up-and-coming …

Although the annual NBA Summer League can be a good bit of fun to follow, fans of the sport have realized by now that you shouldn’t read too much into great performances there.

With that said, it’s a pretty big red flag if top up-and-coming prospects struggle in that setting.

The Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant came out firing in their first tastes of summer ball with the pros. Others not so much.

Below, check out how some of your favorite NBA stars performed in Summer League.

The Celtics stay perfect at NBA Summer League, beat Magic 108-71

The Celtics improve to 3-0 in Las Vegas with another blowout win:

While the second half of the Celtics’ third Las Vegas Summer League contest may have featured an Orlando team playing without its trio of starting guards, Thursday night’s game was over by halftime.

Boston picked up where it left off against Denver as it quickly built a double-digit lead that was never surrendered in a 108-71 win over Orlando at Cox Pavilion.

At the summer league, there are always a few players who don’t belong. That’s meant as a compliment in terms of them not belonging on the floor. Boston has multiple summer league stars that fit that description, and they didn’t disappoint. Coming off of a nearly perfect shooting game and 30-plus point performance, Aaron Nesmith showed his mid-range shot creation to the tune of 7 first-quarter points.

Rookie Sam Hauser came off the bench late in the first period to nail back-to-back 3s and extend Boston’s lead to 9 at the end of one. By halftime, Payton Pritchard had begun to percolate: He led the way with 11 points and the Celtics had built their lead to 19.

Whether by design or because Orlando let things get out of hand early, the trio of Jalen Suggs, RJ Hampton and Cole Anthony only played in the first half and combined to go just 5-18 from the field.

Without its lead guards, Orlando struggled even more offensively and let the lead balloon to a final score of 108-71. It was Hauser’s day. The rookie led all scorers with 21 points off the bench on 6-10 from 3. The Virginia product looked like he was catching up to the pace.

“The first two games I was kind of getting used to (the game speed) and couldn’t make a shot,” Hauser told reporters after the win. “But I think in this third game, I really got my legs underneath me and adjusted.”

Nesmith pitched in 18 while Pritchard added 17 as the Celtics improved to 3-0 in Las Vegas.

Up next for Boston is another undefeated team, Philadelphia, on Saturday at 5 p.m. EDT.

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Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard shine as the Celtics thrash Denver 107-82

The sophomore Celtics put on a show as Boston rolled over Denver:

The Celtics started hot and stayed hot in their second game of Las Vegas NBA Summer League on Tuesday evening. It was rising NBA sophomore Aaron Nesmith who stole the show offensively. The Celtics guards proved too much for Denver rookie Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland and the Nuggets in a 107-82 blowout win.

Behind scorching shooting in the first quarter, the Celtics built an 8-point lead they never gave up. Boston went 7-of-8 from 3 through the first 10 minutes of action; Nesmith and Payton Pritchard combined to connect on all five of their attempts.

The second quarter saw the Nuggets struggling to get stops with Nesmith, Pritchard and Romeo Langford handling the scoring load. Langford had the dunk of the day in Las Vegas when he exploded over Davon Reed for a right-handed punch:

The second half was largely cruise control for a Celtics squad that built a 20-point halftime lead. After promising debuts, Yam Madar and Juhann Begarin were quiet in limited reps. Tuesday provided a chance for the experienced Celtics to take over.

Nesmith finished with a game-high 33 points while shooting 7-of-9 from distance. The former Vanderbilt star showed flashes of the shooter he could become, and he is growing in confidence. Following his 5-of-14 shooting performance in Game 1 with one of his better shooting games ever is proof of growth.

“In the gym yesterday, I made sure I went through the same routine, changed nothing, kept the same confidence in my shot, and then came out today and just shot it the way that I know I can every day,” Nesmith said in the postgame press conference.

The Celtics are 2-0 heading into what should be a terrific game on Thursday night against Jalen Suggs and the Orlando Magic.

The oldest players in summer league this year

Summer league is usually for recently drafted players or young free agents giving the NBA dream a shot, but not all time. There are also veterans who use that platform to try and reignite their NBA careers. Among those older guys playing this summer …

Summer league is usually for recently drafted players or young free agents giving the NBA dream a shot, but not all time. There are also veterans who use that platform to try and reignite their NBA careers.

Among those older guys playing this summer are very recognizable names like Michael Beasley and Kenneth Faried, both of whom are suiting up for the Portland Trail Blazers, as well as Brandon Knight (Brooklyn Nets) and many others.

Below, check out the oldest players participating in summer league this year.

Summer league rosters: Who’s playing where

NBA summer league returns and these are the provisional rosters taking into account media reports and official announcements from teams.

Following a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NBA summer league basketball returns in August. Most of the 2021 draftees will play for their first time with their new teams – along with young players under contract trying to improve their game and free agents looking for new deals.

The NBA Summer League in Las Vegas will once again be the main attraction, with all 30 franchises in play from August 8-17. Before that, Sacramento and Salt Lake City will host two smaller events starting on August 3.

These are the provisional rosters taking into account media reports and official announcements from teams.